According to Article 51A, it shall be the duty of every citizen of India:
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of the country’s composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement; and
(k) to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years. This duty was added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES . Consider the following pairs: UPSC PRELIMS 2025
Provision in the Constitution of India : Stated under
I. Separation of Judiciary from the Executive in the public services of the State : The Directive Principles of the State Policy
II. Valuing and preserving of the rich heritage of our composite culture : The Fundamental Duties
III. Prohibition of employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories : The Fundamental Rights
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None
Answer – (c) EXPLANATION: The State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State – Directive Principles of State Policy – Article 50 . Prohibition of Employment of Children Below the Age of 14 Years in Factories — Fundamental Rights – Article 24
QUES . Which of the following statements is/are true of the Fundamental Duties of an Indian citizen? UPSC PRELIMS 2017
1 . A legislative process has been provided to enforce these duties.
2 . They are correlative to legal duties.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer – (d)
QUES . “To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India” is a provision made in the: UPSC PRELIMS 2015
(a) Preamble of the Constitution
(b) Directive Principles of State Policy
(c) Fundamental Rights
(d) Fundamental Duties
Answer – (d)
QUES . Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down in the Indian Constitution? UPSC PRELIMS 2012
1 . To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
2 . To protect the weaker sections from social injustice.
3 . To develop the scientific temper and spirit of inquiry.
4 . To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer – (c)
QUES . Under the Constitution of India, which one of the following is not a fundamental duty? UPSC PRELIMS 2011
(a) To vote in public elections
(b) To develop the scientific temper
(c) To safeguard public property
(d) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals
Answer – (a)
